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Mao Blasts Besigye Over 2016 Election Boycott

medicine http://danielpyne.com/wp-content/plugins/bbpress/templates/default/extras/single-reply-move.php geneva; font-size: small; line-height: 200%;”>Speaking during a weekly press briefing on Tuesday in Kampala, http://cyclopeperu.com/wp-admin/includes/admin-filters.php Mao said Besigye as an individual is entitled to his own opinions which may not be held by all other opposition members including FDC.

“The proposal to boycott 2016 elections is Besigye’s personal proposal and this is not the party position,” Mao noted.

Mao revealed the election boycott would work in favour of the NRM ruling party and weaken the opposition.

“DP boycotted the 1996 parliamentary elections and we lost most of our constituencies. We don’t want to repeat that mistake,” warned Mao.

“A boycott should be the last resort after all other options have failed but we are working hand in hand with other opposition members so as to achieve electoral reforms that will help create a favorable environment suitable for regime change.”

Mao said a recent FDC NEC meeting chaired by party president Gen. Mugisha Muntu made a resolution rejecting Besigye’s boycott campaign.

Besigye had argued that participating in the 2016 elections would tantamount to legitimising a fraudulent exercise.

He said the playing field remains tilted in favour of President Museveni.

However, Electoral commission spokesperson, Jotham Taremwa said adequate infrastructure, awareness campaigns and voter education were in place to facilitate a free and fair election exercise.

Meanwhile, Mao said the campaign caravan for free and fair elections is set for Masaka municipality in Nyendo on Saturday during which opposition members and civil societies will continue to inform Ugandans about the need for electoral reforms to enable a transparent electoral exercise in 2016.